Page 52 of Wrecked
“Is that the same person who called last night? Is something wrong?” He hadn’t been the same since the call in her room. He’d ended that one without answering it as well. The difference between the man who made love to her outside under the stars and the man standing in her kitchen now were polar opposites.
It was like the time they’d spent together hadn’t happened. He’d reverted to the way he was when he first moved back. Closed off and distant.
He ignored her question. “I have to go.” He limped to her bedroom, then came out a minute later wearing his T-shirt and boots. He kissed her on the top of the head like he always used to. “I’ll see you…soon.”
Then he walked out the front door.
Piper pulled into the parking lot under West Security and scanned the reserved spots for Cole’s car.
There.
She’d spent the last two nights wondering what was going on. If she’d done something wrong. Had Reid finding out about their relationship freaked him out? Maybe he’d changed his mind about what they were doing—or was something else going on with him? She hadn’t seen him since he walked out of her kitchen the day after her barbecue. He’d texted to say he was working late and not to expect him, but she knew there was something more going on. And yeah, she deserved more than the cold shoulder. More from the man she was sleeping with—or at least had been sleeping with—than being frozen out. Something was bothering him, and she was sure it had to do with the phone calls he’d received and ignored while he was at her place.
They weren’t just lovers, they were friends, and the thought that he was hurting, maybe suffering on his own, was too much to bear. All her instincts told her he needed her. He hadn’t come to her, and it didn’t look like he’d been to his apartment, unless he was coming home late at night and leaving early. He could try all he liked, but she refused to let him shut her out. Not now. Not anymore.
Climbing out of her car, she shoved her keys in her jeans pocket and walked to the elevator. West Security’s offices were located on the fifth floor. They also occupied the floor below, where they stored the majority of their hardware and had a surveillance area set up.
She’d never been here herself, but Deke had answered her many questions when she’d subtly grilled him about the place after Cole started working for him. She hit the button for the fifth floor, and a few seconds later the doors slid open. She stepped out, doing her best to ignore the nerves assaulting her.
The room had several desks, and there were people bustling around or on the phones. The waiting area was to the left of the elevator, made up of a large, plush-looking couch and a coffee table. All high-end and very tasteful.
Piper stood there for a minute, trying to imagine Cole in a place like this. It wasn’t easy. Nice suit, fancy office. Yeah, she’d seen him in his suits, of course, but seeing him in this environment. Weird.
He seemed too rough around the edges for a place like this.
She spotted a sign on the wall. A little arrow pointing to the right: COLE BLACK.
Yep. Totally weird.
By all accounts, he’d fitted in easily, had turned the dwindling business around. So what did she know? Deke couldn’t be happier with the way Cole ran the place. And the man himself seemed to be happy with his new position. Well, she guessed he was happy. That’s all she could do since the infuriating pain in the ass told her nothing.
Shoving her hands in her pockets, she approached the woman sitting behind the reception desk. Cole’s name was on the door behind her. “Hi, I’d like to see Cole…ah, Mr. Black, if he’s available?”
The woman gave Piper a slow up and down, and Piper had the urge to stand up a little straighter and run her hands over her hair to smooth it. She’d changed out of her work boots and put on a clean top. Maybe her jeans were a little rough. She glanced down and saw some serious grease stains. Shit. Her face heated. Okay, a lot rough.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Black’s out to lunch. Would you like to leave him a message?”
“No. It’s fine…I’ll just…” She waved a hand toward the elevator. “I’ll give him a call or something later.”
Then, spinning on her heel, she walked back the way she’d come and pressed the button on the elevator to take her down to the underground parking lot. What had she been thinking? This had been a seriously stupid idea. Cole wouldn’t appreciate her coming to his place of work. Putting him on the spot like that. Like he’d open up and have some deep and meaningful discussion with her here.
Great idea, moron.
The doors slid open, and she lifted her gaze from her yellow flip-flops.
Cole stepped out, and her lips tugged up at the corners, the reaction immediate, despite her misgivings about coming. The man had that effect on her, always had. He hadn’t seen her yet, was smiling down at someone, deep in conversation.
Piper’s thrill at seeing him vanished when she spotted the woman with him. Tall and willowy, long, dark hair, sleek down her back. She was wearing skinny jeans and a fitted shirt, displaying her perfect figure. Cole’s arm slid along her shoulders, hand lightly cupping her upper arm. The woman leaned in, a bright smile on her stunning face.
Piper stood frozen for a split second, not sure what to do—until an all-consuming urge to run the other way kicked in.
She spun around. “Oomph!” And ran right into someone.
The man grunted, and all the techy gear in his arms, expensive-looking crap, went flying and made loud, crunchy, shattering noises as it bounced off a desk and landed on the floor.
“Oh God, I’m so sorry!” She cringed inwardly and dropped to her knees, picking up the pieces of whatever it was he’d been carrying. “I’ll pay for it. Just tell me how much, and I’ll pay whatever the damages are.”
“Piper?”
